Damaged Sjampanje sewer pipe fixed
Johannesburg Water says the damaged pipeline has been repaired, while residents report that unpleasant odours persist.
A damaged sewer pipeline on the Sjampanje Street bridge that had been spilling sewage into the river flowing through Strubens Valley, Peter Road and Cypress Road was repaired on July 25. However, a resident who previously raised concerns about the pollution says the foul smell remains.
Johannesburg Water (JW) Roodepoort/Randburg Regional Manager Langutani Chauke confirmed to the Roodepoort Northsider that the pipeline had been repaired as part of an interim solution to prevent sewage from entering the river.
According to Chauke, a new manhole was constructed to connect the existing steel pipe to an asbestos cement (AC) pipe.
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Asked whether the source of the pollution had been identified, Chauke said the sewer spill at Sjampanje Street had affected the entire river system downstream.
“Johannesburg Water will monitor the entire system downstream to determine if there is still pollution,” he said.
Chauke added that no other sources of contamination are currently under investigation. He also confirmed that follow-up water quality tests will be conducted to determine whether any pollution remains.
He said the long-term solution involves relocating the pipeline as part of the Johannesburg Roads Agency’s ongoing Sjampanje Street bridge reconstruction project. However, the project is being completed in phases and no completion date has been confirmed.
Despite the repairs, resident Angie Pipi, who lives near the river, said the odour has not disappeared.
“The smell comes and goes. You can smell it early mornings and early evenings. The past two weeks we could smell it during the day as well,” she said.
The Roodepoort Northsider has been reporting on the pollution since Pipi and neighbouring residents raised concerns about a persistent foul smell, greenish water and foam in the river.
JW previously confirmed that water quality tests detected elevated Escherichia coli (E. coli) levels, indicating sewage contamination in the river system.
Chauke said JW will continue monitoring the river downstream following the repairs to determine whether water quality improves.
